Shapiro officially declares his AG candidacy, Kane wants her law license back and we ask our readers who they believe the Democratic nominee for Attorney General will be. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!
Reader Poll: Who Do You Believe Will Be the 2016 AG Dem Nominee?: We ask our readers who they think will win the Democratic nomination in the 2016 Attorney General race.
Reader Poll: Majority Disapprove of Gov. Wolf’s Line-Item Veto: Our readers weren’t fans of the Governor’s action.
Shapiro Officially Announces AG Campaign: The Montco Commissioner lays out the rationale for his campaign.
Kane Protests Supreme Court Decision, Wants Law License Back: The Attorney General is seeking the reinstatement of her law license ahead of the State Senate’s hearing.
Judge Restrepo Confirmed After 14 Months: The Swarthmore resident will take a step up on the federal judicial ladder.
Legislative Elections Update
SD-48: State Sen. Mike Folmer is being urged to run for a fourth term by Lebanon County Republicans. The 48th district consists of all of Lebanon County as well as parts of Dauphin and York Counties.
HD-131: State Rep. Justin Simmons is running for re-election. Simmons originally pledged to serve only three terms but now says he needs more time to change Harrisburg. As a result, Bill Coyle is running against him in the GOP primary. The 131st district consists of parts of Lehigh and Northampton Counties.
HD-150: State Rep. Mike Vereb announced that he is retiring after five terms. The 150th district includes parts of Montgomery County.
Statewide
Capitolwire: Fiscal Code bill on its way back to state Senate
Capitolwire: Rendell tells Senate to hold off on Kane until new Supreme Court rules, explore impeachment
StateImpactPA: House approves budget bill with controversial energy provisions
State House Sound Bites: Like budgets that pass in the night
Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks: Rendell tells Pa. Senate to switch tacks in going after Kane
KYW Newsradio: Travis Manion Foundation President to Attend State of the Union
Philadelphia Business Journal: U.S. Senate confirms Philly-based federal judge after long delay
Philadelphia Business Journal: Kane has no plans to show at hearing on removal from AG office
Inquirer: Philadelphia schools get new finance chief
Inquirer: Rendell testifies at Senate panel considering Kane’s fitness for office
Inquirer: Muslim-Americans march in N. Philly to support police
Heard in the Hall: Dissed by Rush and Rubio? “I’ll take that any day of the week,” says Kenney
Big Tent: Sanders has big lead over Clinton in NH poll
SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Montgomery County CFO heading to School District of Philadelphia
Pottstown Mercury: Mike Vereb won’t seek another term in State House
Bucks County Courier Times: HHS announces new partners in accountable care organization initiatives
Delco Daily Times: State-related universities caught in Harrisburg crossfire
Delco Daily Times: Pa. lawmakers set set meeting to allay fears after attack
Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Rendell urges Senate committee not to recommend Kane’s removal from office
Tribune Review: Cooperation, Narcan, police pursuit on radar of new public safety director
Post-Gazette: Hearing underway in AG removal process
Post-Gazette: US Senate confirms Pa. judge to federal appeals court seat
Post-Gazette: City to settle lawsuit filed over wrongful arrest
WESA: Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking Improving in Pennsylvania
KDKA: Wolf: Money isn’t there for funding State-Related Universities
WTAE: House votes to tweak education funding distribution
Southwest
Beaver County Times: Conway zoning seat open
Altoona Mirror: Shuster, Halvorson set up for a rematch
Tribune Democrat: Judge clears way for former Penn State President’s lawsuit
NEPA
Times Leader: W-B Area School Board votes to limit tax hike, sets Mackin open house
Times Leader: Trooper Alex Douglass to attend State of the Union
Times Tribune: Dunmore Borough Council approves tax incentive plan
Times Tribune: Kane: Senate-led effort to remove her would set bad precedent
Citizens Voice: Councilwoman wants Luzerne County Council to take a closer look at home rule charter
Citizens Voice: County files to dismiss suit by former HR Director
News Item: City to seek second meter clerk
Pocono Record: Polk Township Supervisor Nancy May retiring after three decades
South Central
York Dispatch: Rep. Schreiber moving district office
Patriot-News: Lebanon County prosecutor announces run for state House
Patriot-News: Should legalizing sports betting be left up to state? Pa. lawmakers think so
Carlisle Sentinel: GOP push to free cash for state-related universities fails
Carlisle Sentinel: Union: ArcelorMittal selling Steelton plant
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: State Rep. Justin Simmons faces primary challenge over broken term-limit pledge
WFMZ: Rendell tells Senate most attorney general duties don’t need a lawyer
WFMZ: Wolf Administration Launches Education & Achievement
WFMZ: Pennsylvania Department of State Announces Disciplinary Actions Against Licensed, Commissioned Professionals and Organizations
North by Northwest
Daily Times: Centre County commissioners discuss variety of issues
Sun Gazette: House votes to tweak education funding distribution
Sun Gazette: South Side explores sewer collection options
Erie Times-News: Erie-area residents, professors discuss Obama’s final State of the Union speech
Opinion
Post-Gazette: Harmful impasse: How can the state pick and choose what to fund?
WESA: Obama’s Final State of the Union to Reflect on Seven Years of Change, Look to Future Progress
Daily News: Eakin’s lawyer seems to forget that some judges are women
Inquirer: Cops put their lives in peril
Reading Eagle: GOP offering no alternative to the Affordable Care Act
Blogs
Citified: Can Kenney Help Make White-Dominated Building Trades More Diverse?
Citified: Will Supreme Court Break the Power of Philly’s Municipal Unions?
Commonwealth Foundation: Fiscal Code Packed with Earmarks
Commonwealth Foundation: Fiscal Code Protects Kids and Jobs
Commonwealth Foundation: Pay Up or Get Fired
Keystone Crossroads: Updated “Covenant” paints bleak picture of life in black America
One Response
Here’s some morning buzz…
Katie McGinty was just busted planting a staffer at a “diner” tour campaign event.
Katie had a very meaningful exchange with a single-mother working two jobs and has been promoting that conversation on social media as well as at other campaign events.
Katie invited the media to attend this event, but failed to advise them that this inspirational single mother looking to Katie for help was actually a “Campaign Associate at Katie McGinty for U.S. Senate 2016” according to her LinkedIn and Facebook pages. (Which has since been removed, which is totally not shady at all)
Here’s the link to her getting busted:
http://www.pghcitypaper.com/PolitiCrap/archives/2016/01/12/sen-pat-toomeys-campaign-alleges-that-democratic-candidate-katie-mcginty-planted-a-staffer-at-campaign-stop-in-Pittsburgh
The McGinty campaign even has the audacity to blame it on this poor working single mother.
Ethics and sincerity don’t seem to be Katie’s strengths.